Grain-separator.



No. 820,816. PATENTED MAY l5, 19U6.

i A MGRAE GRAIN SEPARATOR. v

APPLICATION FILED H1B. 24, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTOH/VE YS PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

A. MGRAE.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLIGATIJN FILED PEB.Z4,1904. v

4 SHEETS--BHEET 3.

Wl TIVE SSE S.'

No. 820,816. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906. A. MGRAE.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLIGATIDN FILED HL2/1.1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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UNITE srnrns ATENT OFFICE.

GRAIN-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

ratenteci may 15, 1906.

Application Iiled February 24, 1904. Serial No. 195,056.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER McRAE, residing at Pendleton, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Grain-Separator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is embodied in certain improved features of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section. of the grain-separator. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the opposite side of the separator. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the separator frame creasing. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the separator. Fig. 6 is an end view of certain parts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the rear part of the grain-cleaner. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the large fan., the wind slide and board that cooperate therewith, and the adjusting devices for said slide and board. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 10 a cross-section, illustrating the side guides for the endless grain-carrier.

Referring now more particularly to Fig 1, which illustrates in longitudinal section the general arrangement of the separating mechanism, 71 designates a cylinder' of the usual form. 72 72a indicate flange-pulleys, and 78 an endless rake, hereinafter termed the straw rattl`e-rake," which takes around the pulleys 72 7 2a and which willbe presently again referred to. Disposed below the cylinder is a flange-pulley74, over which and the sprocket-pulley 75, disposed under and about i in such a manner that the web or carrier 76 is caused to hug the bottom, so that its cross slats or cleats are prevented from riding over the grain and serve in a ositive way to convey the grain up over t e bottom 77 to the separators presently described. To further hold the chain web or carrier 76 in the proper operative position, sheet-metal slides 78 7 8l are provided, one of which, 78, is disposed in the plane over the separator bottom-section 77, and the other, 7 8a, serves as a bottom rest for the upper section of the carrier-web, as shown, the said arrangement of slides 78 7 8a being provided to prevent the slats on the carrier-web sliding over the grain, &c. 79, 82, and 89 designate guides over which the straw rattle-rake 78 runs, and 8l designates one of two opposite narrow side flanges or metal strips secured to the sides of the casing and constituting guides for holding the chain web 76 and the rattle-rake apart and from flapping in contact with each other, 82 designates a concaved deck or guide for the rattle-rake, which is disposed beneath a check member 88, disposed transversely over the rattle-rake pendent from the top of the separator-casing, and has for its object to4 prevent the straw getting between the straw rattle-rake and clogging the same. 83 83u 88b designate idler-pulleys over which the straw rattle-rake runs, and the said idler-pulleys also act as a means for creating agitation ofthe rattle-rakeasthe sameisactuated,which agitation is caused by reason of the cross-slats of the rattle-rake engaging with the said pulleys 83 and other pulleys 86 86u 90 90a, or, in other Words, by the passage of the cross-slats of the rattle-rake over said pulleys. The latter are mounted rotatably on short journals or stub-axles fixed to the sides of the casing at opposite points. It will be noted in Fig. l that the upper and lower runs or halves of the rattle-rake 7 8 are brought close to each other, and as they also move in opposite directions any grain or straw projecting through the top run of the rattlesrake is struck by the cross-sticks of the lower run thereof and dislodged and spread. This feature, together with the vertical oscillation and agitation of the rake, absolutely prevents clogging of the rake and insures distribution of grain and straw in a most effective man* ner. The material that is conveyed rearwardly by thelcarrier 76 is discharged onto a sieve 11.8, which extends from the throat 115 of the uppermost fan 114 to the rear or discharge end of the separator-casing, and the said sieve 113 is disposed over another sieve 112 in the upper portion of the shoe 122, which is inclined downwardly and forwardly, whereby to discharge the grain received thereon onto the bottom of the shoe 122. The small fan 114 is provided to send the blast through the chute or throat 115, so as to strike the grain and chaff as it falls from IOO IIO,

the arched bottom 77. 110 designates the main fan, which discharges into the shoe 122 in the usual manner, its throat or chute 109 being disposed just above the bottom 111 of the shoe 122, as shown, and the casing on the drum of the fan 110 is doubled, as at 110x, to receive a slide 116, which is controlled by a suitable lever operable from the outside of the separator in the manner presently explained for regulating the blast of the said main fan 110. The conveyer-sieve 113 has an extension 118, which extension has a hinge connection 119 to permit of the member 118 swinging vertically. The chute-bottom or wind-board 109 of the fan is hinged at 120 to the fan-casing to allow' for raising or lowering the wind-board, as desired. The adjustable member 118 provides for saving all the Vgrain that would otherwise follow the slope of the bottom of the shoe and be blown over. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a flexible fabric 100, preferably canvas, is attached at its upper edge to the rear end 121 of the hinged sieve section 118 and at its lower edge to the box in which the tailings-auger is located. The sieve 118 is hinged at 119. It is expedient that it shall be held inclined upward more orless to hinder the blast from carrying grain off its rear end, and in going up or down grade the inclination should vary correspondingly. To this end I employ means for automatically varying the inclination of the sieve 118, the same consisting of a weight 132, (see Figs. 2 and 7,) attached to the pendent lever-arm 99 of a rock-shaft 99a, which is j ournaled horizontally in the casing and has other horizontal arms 99h, that are connected with the sieve by links 99C. The-oscillation of the pendulum or weight 13 in a vertical plane as the machine inclines longitudinally in passing over undulating or uneven ground serves to raise or lower the sieve accordingly, so that it is maintained at the right inclination. The canvas check 100 obviously prevents escape of the blast below the sieve while thus oscillated vertically and is bellied out by/force of the blast, which is curved, returned, or directed upward through the sieve, as indicated by arrows, Fig. 7, and above the sieve such diverted blast or current meets the one liowing over the sieve and interrupts or checks it to such extent as to practically neutralize it, so that there is no force left to carry grain off the rear end of the sieve, and the grain drops through the latter and passes to the conveyer. The shoe 122, which in my construction comprises two shoes in one, has a one-half inch shake and is driven from the fan-shaft in the manner to be hereinafter further explained. 123 designates the conveyer that carries the sieve 1 13. This conveyer is a grain-board arranged beneath the sieve 113. 87 designates a deck or deflector mounted over the conve yer, by means of which grain that flies upward is returned'to the conveyer and saved. 94 designates the grate, which connects with the concave hangers 93 in the usual manner, and 95 is a plate between the concave and the feeder 96, which is in the nature of an endless slatted belt that takes over pulleys 97 98. 108 designates a sluffer-sieve, which is located at the discharge of the shoe-bottom 111 and by which china, lettuce, and heavy stuff are returned to the inclined bottom portion 106, from whence they pass' to the second tailings-auger', which is mounted adjacent to and parallel with the grain-auger 103. The recleaner devices include a cockle screen which receives the grain that passes from the bottom 111 of the shoe over the upper end of the slufler-sieve 108 and conveys it to the grain-auger 103, and, 104 designates the fan for the recleaner mechanism, the chute or throat 105 of which discharges the blast when it strikes against the grain as it falls over the upper onto the lower chute.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, upon the traction-wheel shaft 68 is mounted the large sprocket-wheel 5, which is geared with the sprocket-wheel 40 in the corresponding side of the machine, as shown. 4 designates the sprocket-wheel, mounted on the shaft 2, that carries the sprocket-wheel 45 and which is geared with the sprocket-wheel 21 upon the counter-shaft 3 through chain 21a. 27 and 27El designate brackets for supporting portions of the leveling devices, and 200 200a on Fig. 2 represent brackets that support the worm-gear 7 before referred to. 128 128al 129 129a designate truss-rods that support the leveling-frame and the rack devices 8. 149 designates a lever-rod device for controlling the dumping-board 150. 28 designates the gear on a cross-shaft 3, before referred to, which imparts motion to the gear 140 on the cylinder-shaft through the `medium of the intermediate gears 138 139, and 141 designates a pulley mounted upon the shaft that carries the intermediate gears 138 139 and which, by means of the belt connection shown, imparts motion to the pulley 142 on the feedershaft. 103 designates the sprocket-wheel upon the said feeder-shaft, which through the chain belt 143al engages a sprocket-pulley 144 and 145, which drives the sacher-elevator 146, the grain-auger 143, and the tailingselevator 147, as also the tailings-auger, from the recleaner 102. 127 designates a post with which the truss-rods 129 1292L and 128 128EL connect and which are also fastened with the main frame, as shown. 130 designates lever-and-ratchet devices for controlling the wind-slide in the main fan-drum, and 160 designates a slot in the side of the separator-casing by which to permit of the adjustment of the said slide. 202 indicates a rod that connects the lever 130 with the wind-slide, and 131 designates a lever-andratchet device which through the connecting IOO IIO

IIS

- nection to work under.

`shown in Fig. 8.

rod l203 regulates the wind-board, as best 162 designates the usual grouser attaclmnent for the traction-wheel. 133 designates the pitman which operates the agitator, (shown in detail in Fig. 1,) and 132 designates the weight for regulating the conveyer extension. (Shown in Fig. 1 and in detail in Fig. 7.) 135 135SL designate the shoe-hangers, 134 134a the conveyer-hangers, and 139 139"1L the slots for hangers con- 153 `(see Fig. 2) designates the pulley on the fan-shaft, which through the medium of the belt 155a connects with the pulley 155, keyed u on the shaft which runs the chain web in t e separator (see Fig, 1) and also the tailings-elevator upon the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 2. 151 designates a pulley on the fan-shaft which drives the rattle straw-rake through the medium of the crossed belt that passes over the pulley 158, and 157 designates the pulley on the fanshaft which drives the small fan by means of the crossed leather belt that takes over the pulley 156. 154 designates the sprocket upon the drive-shaft 154, from which motion is imparted through the medium of the chain belt 154b to the sprocket 153 and the conveyer. 161 designates the controlling lever-wheel for actuating the disk 17 hereinbefore referred to. 148 designates the sack* ing attachment and hopper, which may be of the ordinary construction. 147 designates the tightenenpulley for the main drive-chain, and 146 the pitman, which is connected to the fan-shaft and which is utilized for actuating the shoe.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, 159 1598 designate slots for the conveyer hangers 134 1342* to work in. 209 designates the cam-wheel'which operates the conveyer by means of the pitman connection 210. In this Fig. 3, 58 designates the pulley upon the counter-shaft 3, which imparts motion to the fan by a leather belt that passes over the fanpulley 204. 206 designates the main drivepulley on the cylinder-shaft, which is connected to the fan-shaft by a leather belt on the fan-pulley 205. 207 and 208 designate packer devices of ordinary construction. 211 is a lpulley for driving the tailings-elevator 213 to the tailings-auger 1.01 to which motion is imparted by the leather belt that takes over the said. pulley 211 to the pulley 212. 44 designates the oblong eyebolt to which the lowering and raising device is attached. 214 is a rod connection that joins the bolt 44 with the bell-crank lever 215, to which is adjustably connected a rod 218, which joins with the lever 216, disposed adjacent the driver-seat, and which is adapted to coact with the rack 217, the several parts just referred to being provided for adjusting the headerd'rame.

In Fig. 5, 130 131 designate the leverratchet device by Awhich the wind slots and boards are operated from the top of the Separator, as hereinbefore referred to.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, it is believed the construction and the manner of operation of my invention will be readily understood.

By reason of the construction of the parts described the separator commences to separate the grain from the straw under the cylinder and continues such operation the full length of the machine, and by reason of the5 chain web running over the arched bottom of the separator such arrangement admits of the long separation mentioned and materially assists in the said separation, and, furthermore, by running the web over the arched bottom and. by reason of being held in place by slide-guides it does the work perfectly and admits of said long separation, which has heretofore not been possible, so far as I know, in other makes of combined harvesters using aprons.

In its cleaning action'my machine has a very large sieve area, and by having three fans which strike the grain as it falls in un broken blasts through the wind-chutes provided for that purpose the work is done perfectly. By reason of the conveyer adapting itself automatically to the slope of the ground it is impossible to waste grain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. In grain and straw separators, the combination of an endless traveling rake comprising endless webs and transverse slots spaced apart, end. rollers or pulleys on which the said rake is supported and travels, side guides over which the upper run of the rake travels, other side guides supporting the lower run of the rake, whereby it is curved upward and inward toward the upper run, the runs thus approximating closely at one point and being somewhat widely separated in front of such. point so that grain and straw protruding downward through the upper run at said point are struck by the lower run and. carried forward and distributed as specified.

2. The combination, with end pulleys, of a traveling rake comprising an endless web and. transverse slats attached to its outer side and spaced apart, guides for the upper run of the rake, idler-pullcys arranged under the lower run of the rake and located with reference to the upper guidesso as to support the lower run nearer the upcper run at one point than any other, the sai pulleys thus serving both as guides and means for agitating the lower run as shown and described..

3. The combination, with idler-pulleys, of an, endless carrier, composed of an endless belt or web having cross-slats attached to the outer side, pulleys arranged under the lower IOC] run of said carrier and the slats of the latter traveling over the pulleys whereby such lower run is agitated or shaken vertically, as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the chain web 76 having cross-slats separated from each other, and end pulleys on which the same runs, of the board 77 having a gradual upward curve and arranged under the lower run of said web so that the slats slide in close co'ntact with the upper side thereof, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a fan and a grain-conveyer, of a hinged sieve, a flexible check 100 arranged at the end of the grainwinnower and above said conveyer, and connected with the sieve, and means for automatically supporting and adjusting the outer end of the sieve vertically according to the inclination of the machine in a lengthwise direction, as specified.

@fedele 6. The combination, with a wheeled frame, casing, and a ian, of a hinged sieve-'section 118, and means for automatically adjusting its free outer end vertically, the same consisting of a rock-shaft having a weighted lever-arm and other arms connected with the sieve, the weighted arm being adapted to swing in the direction of the length of the machine, as shown and described.

7. The combination7 with a fan, a tailingsconveyer, and a hinged sieve having a ti ansverse .plate at its outer end, of a canvas check 100 whose upper edge is secured directly to said plate, and a weighted lever operatively connected with the sieve, as and for the purpose specified.

ALEXANDER MCRAE.

Vitnesses JOE. H. PARKES, F. S. CURL. 

